Boxing: Lewis buoyed by court success

Lennox Lewis is confident it is now just a matter of time before he brings the WBC and IBF heavyweight belts back to Britain after last night’s court victory over Hasim Rahman.

Lewis had sued the new champion over a rematch clause written into the contract for their clash in South Africa on April 22, which Rahman won in the fifth round.

The American planned to renege on that deal after signing up with controversial promoter Don King and was due to meet Nigeria’s David Izon in Beijing in August.

However, New York judge Miriam Cedarbaum delivered the verdict that Rahman cannot make a defence of his titles in the next 18 months unless he first fights Lewis.

‘‘I’m very pleased and gratified that Judge Cedarbaum has upheld my right to fight for the heavyweight title,’’ said Lewis.

‘‘It’s unfortunate we had to go to court to uphold a very clear right I had.

‘‘I would like to thank all those who stood by me during this time. I look forward to regaining the heavyweight championship of the world.

‘‘I have won the first round in court and now I will do it again in the ring when I meet Rahman later this year.’’

Cedarbaum, in her summing up, declared that 35-year-old Lewis would be ‘‘irreparably harmed’’ if Rahman was permitted to breach the contract.

She added: ‘‘Lewis’ powers as a boxer will be diminishing over the next two years.’’

The fight with Izon will now be scrapped with Lewis-Rahman II to be scheduled over the coming months, with September the preferred choice of the Lewis camp.

An obviously delighted Judd Burstein, Lewis’ lawyer, said: ‘‘Rights have been respected by the court.

‘‘What took place here is an outrage and it’s nice to see justice has been done.’’